Beaverton, Oregon — A 16-year-old girl who went to her boyfriend’s apartment asking for a ride home instead ended up fighting for her life after she was shot in the stomach, according to prosecutors and court records.
In the moments after the shooting, the injured teenager sent a series of desperate messages to her mother asking for help. The case has now ended with her boyfriend, 20-year-old Sky Alexander Korbut, receiving a lengthy prison sentence.
Teen Asked Boyfriend for a Ride Home
The shooting happened around 4:50 a.m. on Nov. 21, 2024, at Korbut’s apartment on Southwest Prairie Terrace in Beaverton, according to authorities.
The teenager had reportedly gone to Korbut’s home because she needed a ride home.
Court records say Korbut was cleaning his room and placed a Smith & Wesson handgun on a dog kennel before showing it to the girl. The teenager reportedly told him to “get it out of her face” and slapped the gun away.
Prosecutors said Korbut fired the weapon only seconds later, striking the girl in the abdomen.
Her Messages to Mom Revealed Her Desperation
After being shot, the teenager immediately reached out to her mother. Her frantic text messages included:
“I got shot.”
She then sent “Mama,” “Plz,” and “Help me.”
Her mother had been trying to determine where her daughter was and had recently messaged her, “I thought u coming home.” The messages became important evidence in the case as investigators worked to establish what happened inside the apartment.
Bullet Damaged Multiple Organs
Korbut called 911 following the shooting and reportedly told the dispatcher that he had accidentally shot his girlfriend. When officers arrived, they found the teenager suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
She was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition.
According to court documents, the bullet caused devastating internal injuries, striking her intestines, gallbladder, liver and pancreas. A fundraiser established for the teenager said the shooting affected multiple organs and parts of her body.
Court records also stated that she required approximately 20 liters of blood during her treatment. At one point, doctors reportedly warned her family that there was a possibility she might not survive.
Despite the severity of her injuries, the teenager survived.
Defendant’s Account Was Challenged by Investigators
Korbut was initially arrested and charged with third-degree assault.
However, prosecutors later upgraded the case after detectives uncovered additional evidence, including statements from the victim that authorities said contradicted Korbut’s version of events.
Korbut maintained that the shooting was accidental.
According to court records, he told investigators he had purchased the handgun illegally from someone “on the street” after failing background checks.
He reportedly said he had been “waving” the gun while moving it when, according to his account, it somehow fired. Investigators ultimately determined that additional evidence warranted more serious charges.
Boyfriend Sentenced to Nearly Six Years
Korbut was ultimately convicted of second-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to nearly six years in the Oregon Department of Corrections, according to the Beaverton Police Department.
The sentence closes the criminal case, but the teenager and her family are left dealing with the physical and emotional consequences of the shooting.
The girl survived an injury that doctors feared could be fatal, while the messages she sent immediately afterward provided a chilling glimpse into the fear and desperation she experienced.
What are your thoughts on this case? Do you think the sentence was appropriate given the teenager’s injuries? Share your opinion in the comments below.
